(Montreal) The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) issued 220 infractions last weekend during an operation to control paid passenger transportation in the Montreal region.
In total, 724 vehicles transporting people were intercepted by SAAQ road inspectors.
Of all the infraction reports, 200 of them were handed over for non-compliance with the Act respecting remunerated transportation of persons by automobile and around twenty concerned violations of traffic rules.
The SAAQ seized 17 vehicles and suspended the driving licenses of 16 people for a period of seven days.
Among the main offenses observed, the SAAQ mentions drivers or vehicles which were not qualified according to the law. For others, the summary inspection report was not up to date or duly completed or did not exist on board the vehicle.
Some vehicles arrested did not have the accessory that the SAAQ provides to owners to distinguish whether or not the automobile is used to provide paid passenger transportation.
Persons who contravene the law on remunerated passenger transportation are liable to a fine of up to $5,000.
The number of vehicles carrying people has jumped in recent years. In 2023, no less than 19,000 vehicles were registered with the SAAQ.